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So, I have a couple of nights where I could not sleep. And we're talking after taking Ambien! Then, I seemed to have lost my appetite, and that got me wondering if I could have accidently gone into ketosis?

I am not trying to eat low carb, but I have been eating a lot of eggs, heavy cream, low glycemic veggies and the occasional sweet potato, the last 2-3 days (and, yes, okay, some cheese with the eggs).

Can a person go into ketosis that fast? Does that account for the sleep and the appetite? And if I do happen to accidently be here, should I try to maintain this? IDK?

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I think it only takes me 2-3 days to get into ketosis. That could totally happen. Don't dismiss the time of year though, we've just passed the longest days of the year, and it is natural to sleep less during the summer. – Happy Now Jul 4 at 2:24

3 Answers

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I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about ketosis having anything to do with your sleep habits.

First consider the most common perpetrators such as computer screens(my current perpetrator, 1.5 hours past my bed time), phones, lights in the rooms, noise, hot temperatures.

Do you take in caffeine other ways? Too much sugar? Chocolate, soda?

Are you extremely stressed because of work, life, etc? To the point where you can't think about anything else, can't relax at all?

Are you being physically active enough? Even so much as going on a walk for a half hour at a pace that has you breathing fairly good.

Once these are other factors are considered, then start considering new factors. Most often, I've found, with sleep, it isn't what you've changed that is causing you to stay up, it's what you haven't changed.

As for whether or not you should remain in ketosis: ask yourself what your goals are. Weightloss? Then yes, and stay away from any and all carbs you can (even fruit and sweet potatoes). Are you happy with where your body composition is? Then it's up to you. Want to gain at any cost? Stay out of ketosis.

And also, remember, ketosis means your body is using ketones to produce glucose, because you've not taken in enough glucose to provide your brain with its requisite 100g. That, however, does not mean your body only produces ketones when in "ketosis", but rather that your primary source of energy is fat, turning into glucose via ketones.

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I like this answer, but just a technical point: glucose is made from protein by gluconeogenesis, not from ketones. – Ambimorph Aug 5 at 8:34
:) The fault lies in my understanding being something of a layman's understanding. Thanks. – Jared Krauss Aug 5 at 19:29
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I can tell that I am in ketosis because I sleep much better....

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It is certainly possible for you to be ketosis this quickly if you are already fat-adapted. I, like the previous poster, can go into ketosis in 2 or 3 days when I'm low carbing, but, based on what you have shared, it is very difficult to discern. Is your only source of protein and fat the eggs/cream/cheese? I know that my appetite does drop considerably when I'm in ketosis, but I am eating a high fat/moderate protein/low carb when this happens.

Also not sure how the Ambien would affect your sleep, how has your body responded to the Ambien previously? Are you taking any other meds? What about coffee?

My guess is that either lack of calories or the meds/coffee contributing more to the sleep issues than the ketosis.

Are you peeing constantly? What are your breath? What other symptoms are you experiencing? Would be helpful to have more information to be able to provide a better answer.

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Ambien is a sleeping pill,so her mind/body probably usually responds by sleeping – wendy Jul 4 at 12:54
I am peeing constantly, my breath is normal. That's about it. I gave up coffee 3 months ago (got too sensitive to it after chemo). Oh, loss of appetite...It's not lack of calories, I do eat a lot :-) – Chinaeskimo Jul 4 at 21:58
Well it certainly appears that you could be in ketosis. But, I have just not ever heard that ketosis disrupts sleep. Could it be stress? – flmochamom Jul 5 at 2:54

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